OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: Besides writing, what other creative outlets do you have?

I’ve messed around with covers. What do you think?

It’s amazing what a person can find online these days.

Here’s the YouTube that started it all:

It’s a how-to series. I followed the advice and my heart and this is where I landed. Didn’t hurt that I got Photoshop (not the subscription but the disc) for Xmas in 2018. I’ve played. I’ve had fun. Learned a lot. A LOT!

Graphic design is nothing like drawing (I only dabbled in sketching, etc.). Some say I have the eye. I know what I like. It’s all subjective like choosing the perfect read.

84 responses to “IWSG #57: DIY Book Covers”

I didn’t think of that one. Your covers are wonderful! I too do that to limited success but I have no choice. I have over a hundred e-resources that need covers and then there are all my YouTube videos. Can’t afford to pay for all that designing!

Yours are excellent and quite artistic. I tried out of low income and was more or less pleased. I now use a trusted friend to design mine and am better pleased. 🙂 Does Wattpad help do you think? Whatever the funk, I hope the dawn comes soon for you.

I like your covers. I don’t dabble in the design myself but I appreciate a good cover. It can be really simple and still say something. I find the font for the title and author to be important too. The image and font should compliment, not crowd each other.

Isn’t it fun testing out different styles and combinations? I freaking love it. I do that a lot myself with my own books, and I query a lot of my friends for suggestions. It does tend to make me more critical of book covers, in the same way I get critical of writing when I’m focused on correcting mistakes in my own work.

I really like the Minor Error cover. It’s got a great feel and good lighting. Plus, the dynamic pose really makes it pop and gives it a feel of movement. I am less keen on the Mexmur covers. Part of it is due to the typography (the choice of serif font for the subtitles) and another part is the lighting on the image (the harsh light source on the woman makes her seem disconnected from the background). I could give more feedback, if you were interested in my opinions on the matter. I’m not a professional, though, and all my experience is self-taught, so best to be taken with a grain of salt. I do find reading through the comments on the Monthy e-Book Cover Design Awards helpful, and I’ve also found a lot of fun free-for-commercial-use fonts at Font Squirrel, if you enjoy exploring.

I love your covers! I have fun with designing them, too. No pressure, just art. It’s really quite relaxing. Hope the funk lifts soon. I’m fighting that too, having just recovered from a very nasty virus.

Well done on the covers, Anna. Very creative! I think that counts towards book progress or learning new things in regards to publishing! And, it’s way more fun than whatever got you in this funk. I hope you’ll pop out of it soon, maybe when spring arrives?

If I end up self-publishing my memoir, I’m looking forward to playing around with covers. Very time-consuming, though…

Nice on the covers. I’ve played around with some DIY myself. Another blogger I follow did a series of posts on making them using Canva. It’s fun to play around with, and for a while I’ll keep paying someone to make them. Sorry you’re still in a funk. Hopefully it ends soon.

Great covers, you should design my latest. Diane is right it’s all in the font, and I fail at that every time. The funk will pass, I tell myself that, and hold on! Wishing you all the best with lots of sunshine!

I really like your covers! That sounds like a fun pursuit and helpful when publishing your own work.

Sorry to hear you’re in a funk. I totally understand. I was there for a very long time and just recently got out of it. Here’s to sunny skies and the energy to focus on the creative pursuits you enjoy xo

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
You’ve done some very nice covers. I have dabbled a little but it’s a strong point for me. I can see how it would be fun to play around with though. Hope you ease out of your funk soon.

Great covers here, Anna. And thanks for sharing this youtube video. I’ve listened to it, and you’re right. It’s not sketching or drawing as much as it’s putting together the elements of the story on the cover to entice readers and book stores to pick it up. You do have an eye, by the way!

Thanks for sharing that resource, Anna! I hope you get out of your funk soon. I’m not sure how it is in your part of the world but the weather has been disheartening where I live. Here’s hoping it turns around for you soon!